Ashy Red Sky Blue

This enormous shrub grows up to 12 feet (3.7 meters) tall and lives for around 38 years. It is very resistant to disease but is susceptible to destructive insect infestation.

It has numerous branched, twisting stems covered in fine, cracked, brown bark, and the wood inside is burgundy-brown.

The branches are short, rigid and upright that and are covered with sparse amounts of miniature, circular, leaves with jagged edges. The leaves themselves are found in ashy red, pale purple and peach varieties, sturdy and flexible and waxy.

In early summer it produces thick bunches of tiny, ashy red blossoms with 2 teardrop-shaped shaped petals. They are sturdy and have an intensely strong scent that smells like coffee.

In midwinter very large slender, 8 pointed fruits ripen. The smooth sky blue skin is tough and sweet and spicy, and the very soft white flesh is bitter and sticky. The gold seeds are small and are dotted around on the skin of the fruit.